- A father in Eldorado Park now faces murder and rape charges after his four-year-old daughter died from severe abuse and an attempted drowning.
- The child’s mother is accused of doing nothing to help during the attack and faces a charge of defeating the ends of justice.
A four-year-old girl who was in intensive care after being beaten and nearly drowned by her father has died.
In a Facebook video, Member of Parliament Dereleen James confirmed the tragic news. “I am here at Bara ward 7 and I regret to inform everyone that Nikita has passed on,” she said.
Both parents had appeared briefly at the Protea Magistrate Court before her death. The father was first charged with attempted murder and compelled rape, but those charges were changed to murder and rape after she died.
“Police can confirm that the four-year-old child has died in hospital. The case docket has been changed to murder and an additional charge of rape has been added,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo from Gauteng police.
The mother faces a charge of defeating the ends of justice.
Police said they were called to a home in Eldorado Park, Soweto, on Thursday night after a complaint that a father was abusing his daughter.
“Upon arrival at the scene, officers were directed to a closed backyard shack and found a man with his three-year-old son and four-year-old daughter. Police noticed that the girl, who was lying in bed, had head injuries, bruises and a swollen eye,” said Masondo.
He said the man, who claimed to be the children’s father, could not explain the injuries. Police arrested him and rushed the girl to hospital, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit after a brutal assault and attempted drowning.
African Transformation Movement chairperson Lubabalo Magwentshu condemned the mother for allegedly doing nothing to help. “We are profoundly disappointed that the child’s mother allegedly failed to intervene or seek help during this critical time, merely watching as her child was subjected to severe abuse by the father,” he said.
Magwentshu praised Ward 18 Councillor Juwairiya Kaldine for her bravery. “She was present at the scene where the incident occurred, even when the area was not yet secured, and the child’s bloody clothes were visible in the vicinity,” he said.
Both parents remain in custody and will appear in court again on 12 August 2025 for a bail hearing.
Pictured above: Crime scene in Eldorado Park.
Image source: Lopang Alamu on X
